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Business Standard, 15th Feb 18
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In what would be a huge capability jump, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is increasingly interested in procuring the American F-35 Lightning II for its depleting fighter fleet.; t+ W# [5 K* E* y+ B( r
: x7 |% X7 C3 d' X- H* yBusiness Standard learns the IAF top brass is formally requesting for a classified briefing by the F-35’s prime builder, Lockheed Martin, on the capabilities of the sophisticated, fifth-generation fighter developed under the US Joint Strike Fighter programme.; e0 L/ `6 l3 \) v5 h0 y
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The US government has not formally offered the F-35 to India. A classified briefing would require formal clearance from the US Department of Defence (the Pentagon) and the State Department. The grant of such a clearance would be an important first step towards permitting the sale of F-35s to India.
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( | i# @ H6 E2 J& }It is learnt the IAF wants to procure 126 of the variant called F-35A) C9 b1 j+ d8 b5 Q0 a0 ?( P- x
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' ?+ Z% `% _, v' K8 U gThe F-35’s affordability is also attractive for New Delhi. In contrast to the bare-bones price of $115 million for each Rafale fighter (with India-specific enhancements, spares, logistics and weapons all extra), the F-35A cost customers $94.6 million last February. Lockheed Martin says it will reduce the cost to $80 million by 2020.8 Q: i/ d* J A! w, ?' T& U6 K
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9 I+ i, e" I5 t8 uSources close to the Pentagon say India would not be sold the F-35 as long as it is partnering Russia in the FGFA co-development project. That is because Washington would guard against the leakage of F-35 technology into the FGFA.
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4 R* f' [' e" `/ fSenior officers say the IAF is not enthused about the FGFA project. They point out the F-35 is further advanced in development and has already entered service with the USAF and six-seven air forces of American allies.2 v1 Q( ~% T. F3 |
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